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Understanding States of Consciousness
Sep 28, 2024
Lecture: States of Consciousness
Introduction
Consciousness
: Level of awareness of internal and external stimuli.
Arousal
: Not only sexual; refers to being stimulated by something (e.g., fear, motivation).
Regulation
: Managed by the Reticular Activating System (RAS).
The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Function
: Regulates transitions between different energy states and sleep.
Caffeine Impact
: Antagonizes adenosine, disrupts RAS regulation leading to increased arousal.
Habituation
: With frequent use, effects diminish, leading to increased consumption and potential side effects.
Levels of Awareness
High-Level Consciousness
Deep focus and engagement (e.g., solving puzzles, studying).
Associated with executive function and decision-making.
Low-Level Consciousness
Autopilot mode for routine activities (e.g., walking, chores).
Risk of missing important details.
Altered States of Consciousness
Induced by drugs (e.g., cannabis, alcohol) or conditions (e.g., fatigue, trauma).
Includes meditation, hypnosis, and mental disorders.
Subconscious and No Awareness
Subconscious
: Affects actions without full awareness (e.g., dreams, parallel processing).
No Awareness
: Deep memories influencing behavior unconsciously.
Brain Waves and Sleep Stages
Beta Waves
: High-level thinking.
Alpha Waves
: Relaxed, awake state.
Hypnagogic Phase
: Transition between wakefulness and sleep.
Sleep Stages
: Progression from light sleep to deep sleep and REM.
Multitasking and Consciousness
Divided Consciousness
: Managing different tasks simultaneously (e.g., driving and listening to music).
Requires tasks to use different sensory pathways.
Shifted Consciousness
: Alternating focus between tasks using the same sensory pathway (e.g., texting while driving).
More dangerous due to complete focus shift.
Conclusion
Effective use of consciousness levels can enhance productivity and safety.
Understanding the limitations of multitasking can prevent accidents and improve task performance.
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